A little too frustrated/demotivated at present to be doing much code-wise - sorry to those waiting on things, I will still try to find the drive to get the few necessities (eg/ magespells) that are needed to finish off some balance changes. The rest is probably going to be on hold for a bit.

So I haven't been updating this thread since my return a few months back, just a heads up I am finding it much easier to run a weekly update thread via the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shadowgate-MUD/416664665041363 for those who may not be checking past it. As always, suggestions & feedback are very welcome as the various changes come through

My past self is really excited by the armored casting fix. Bards should also find it great._________________PM me in the forum here when you want me on to RP or dungeon dive. The forum will automatically notify me by e-mail. Then my e-mail will send me a text message. Then I will get on likely within minutes.

Fake pockets he means and randomly placed belts and zippers in places that don't normally have zippers._________________PM me in the forum here when you want me on to RP or dungeon dive. The forum will automatically notify me by e-mail. Then my e-mail will send me a text message. Then I will get on likely within minutes.

You should still be able to wear a magerobe + magical armor, or magical magerobe + armor - so we shouldn't need to add this to light armor. Both combos are still as functional as they ever were. I think the idea of 'magerobe' is probably going to stay primarily to clothing

Awesome, is it possible to remove the requirements for armored caster? I've had a few ideas now and then for a PC with this feat but since I can't start there it hampers. Taking the feat not only requires you having the light armor prof feat but also adds additional gear requirements atop of it, a luxury cloth casters usually enjoy.

To me purchasing the feat has as many pro's as con's, but I'm assuming N will disagree since it is her default state _________________Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit,
Wisdom is knowing not to put it into a fruit salad.

I don't even understand your post. I get the part where its really a two feat feat (Not really a problem. Its not the only 2 feat feat, rush for example.) But nothing else._________________PM me in the forum here when you want me on to RP or dungeon dive. The forum will automatically notify me by e-mail. Then my e-mail will send me a text message. Then I will get on likely within minutes.

In this case, it'll be as you expect - the benefit of a mage with constant AC is counterbalanced by it being an expensive feat; mages are supposed to be squishy by default, and they've already had a considerable AC boost on the new armor system. If we start removing pre-reqs, the alternative would be to put the caster-level decrease back on it, which I assume for many characters would be a greater penalty than having to buy pre-req feats that are useful to such a build anyway.

Of primary consideration is that this feat tends to be best integrated to a multi-class build (mage/thief, mage/fighter, etc etc) who already get the armor feat for free. So in the majority cases where this is a streamlined part of a build, having it as a straight-out buy in those cases, with no other penalty, would be a bit too cheap for the constant benefit it provides.

The gear requirement is similarly non-issue on the current armor system, since you only need your standard crazy-good magerobes (enchanted or whatever) that you would get anyway, and stack a mundane piece of armor with that. You can buy that at any store for a handful of gold pieces, for instant free AC equivalent to an armored class. So that's not much of a gear requirement to have to worry about. I highly doubt most casters would do the reverse given the way magerobes now operate, with components in the pockets.

You may consider this disagreement my 'default state' but in responding to anything like this, it will be with balance considerations in mind. Some players are more experienced at thinking outside the box - seeing what may work or has a counterbalance in place - so I find it far more often the case to be able to respond with a 'yes, that'd work fine, I'll add it to my list'. Best I can suggest if you're feeling disagreement is a default response to your ideas, is to think outside the one concept you may be considering it in and think of how else it can be used (such as the above example). Then you may answer your own question, or come up with something that may be more workable

I would point out, just on the side, that a vast majority of my ideas to implement do actually come from players, not from me. I'm just not an innately creative person by nature. The mage-robes update was a player idea. A large chunk of the spells & epic feats I'm working on at present have come from player suggestions. At least half my current to-do list is from players (and most of the other half of it is bug-fixes... bleh). Maybe just need to think a little broader Most of the time I just tend to be the code-monkey/balance consideration for the creative ideas that players throw at me...

I think a big reason I teased you with 'your default state' is my mindset is towards playstyle where you need to consider balance and the, again, risk of abuse that was taken up in another post. For me I'd love to see armored caster as a non req'd feat as it opens up a playstyle for the classes it would effect from the start. And just for clarification playstyle does not just mean mechanicly, but also a style, a persona and so forth.

I won't keep going at it in the vain hope I'd change your mind, your point is well made, I'll just look forwards to the next idea you can default to 'wtf is this guy on about... again!?!'_________________Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit,
Wisdom is knowing not to put it into a fruit salad.

Allow me to say, my past self and current self both cry a single tear of joy at the two headed snakes losing their instant kill power._________________PM me in the forum here when you want me on to RP or dungeon dive. The forum will automatically notify me by e-mail. Then my e-mail will send me a text message. Then I will get on likely within minutes.

"Some players are more experienced at thinking outside the box - seeing what may work or has a counterbalance in place - so I find it far more often the case to be able to respond with a 'yes, that'd work fine, I'll add it to my list'."

Very true, and thinking outside the box can be great fun. I recall begging you for years to make druids and especially bow feats after my first real char just couldn't compete. He went all bow, Weapon Finesse was also totally messed up at the time and actually caused me to take more damage than anything. N fixed it that night and I was a pimp for a short while. Where as with a bow before bow feats I took out a Goblin Headhunter, some wiz run fun, in Offestry by shooting it once and then quickly running to another room normally right before it entered the room because there was a wait time until you could move after shooting. It was the only way to use a bow back then and it took me like two hours to kill that mob. Sometimes it would catch me too and I'd have to down a bunch of kits. On top of all that we didn't have magical quivers so I kept having to grab more arrows. I must of went through 1,000 if not more trying to kill that Goblin. It was a real challenge to run that character and that is how about 9 out 10 of all my battles went. Then just after the weapon finesse got fixed a group of baddies started PKing me non-stop because I was a Ranger for Melikkie, did the RP event so that it was official and all. It was a fun char, but without bow feats it was near impossible to really survive anything with. So we RP'd my death which was also fun and I started begging for druids.

Funny thing is I haven't touched a druid or a bow character since they went in. Sorry N, I keep meaning to and I know I annoyed the crap out of you asking all the time but... I like to see all the others play them! So thanks! _________________"Just carry a really big shield and you'll be alright. Unless your out of ale, then you may have a problem." -Old Shield Dwarf Proverb